14-year-old, 4-year-old from Littleton killed in Nebraska crash

LINCOLN, Neb. – Authorities believe deer crossing a highway caused a crash that killed two children from Littleton on Sunday night.

The Nebraska State Patrol says around 8:45 p.m., the crash happened near the Odessa, Neb. exit on Interstate 80. Troopers say 37-year-old Michael Betts Jr. was driving his 2006 Nissan minivan on I-80 and had just passed a truck pulling a car trailer when several deer ran from the north ditch across the road.

Betts tried to avoid hitting the deer, but hit one and was then hit from behind by the truck pulling a car trailer, according to troopers.

Troopers say the minivan rolled and both vehicles stopped in the ditch.

According to the State Patrol, 14-year-old Michael Betts and 4-year-old Cora Betts were killed. Four other family members in the van, ranging in age from 37 to 1 were taken to a hospital in Kearney, Neb.

The driver of the truck, 48-year-old Sergey Wasinskiy of Vancouver, Wash. was not hurt.

Troopers say it appears everyone was wearing seatbelts.